Home Page >
Schools & Services >
University Services >
Student Support and Wellbeing >
Welfare and International Support >
UK (Home) Students >
Programme Change (Transfer, Repeat, Suspend & Withdraw) >
Withdrawing From Your Programme

Withdrawing from your Programme

Withdrawal is the term we use where students decide to leave the University prior to completion of the award for which they are registered, for reasons both personal and academic. If you are considering withdrawing, it is important that you understand the implications of your decision.

How to withdraw from your programme

Before deciding to withdraw from your programme of study, you should first speak to your Guidance Tutor or Programme Leader to discuss issues you may have and any alternative options available to you. If you then decide to withdraw you should notify your School Office who will complete a Withdrawal Form which will be sent to Student Finance England* to notify them of the changes.

Your student status will cease from the last date of attendance quoted on the Withdrawal Form. From this date you will lose your student status including exemption from Council Tax.

You should also let Student Finance England* know yourself that you are withdrawing. You can do this by completing a Change of Circumstances Form (C01), available to download from the Student Finance England website.

Future support & the Previous Study Rule

You should be aware that withdrawing from your programme will have an effect on your remaining entitlement to financial support if you want to return to Higher Education at a later date.

Eligible students are entitled to financial support for the length of their programme plus one additional year, minus any years of previous study. This is known as the ‘Previous Study Rule’.

Example 1: a student withdraws from her 3 year programme at the end of her 1^st year. She later enrols on another programme and is entitled to three years financial support.

3 yr programme + 1 additional yr - 1 yr previous study = 3 yrs remaining financial support (3+1-1=3).

Example 2: a student withdraws from his 3 year degree programme at the end of his 2nd year and later enrols on a new programme. He will be entitled to 2 years of financial support for his new programme.

3 yr programme + 1 additional yr - 2 yrs previous study = 2 yrs remaining financial support (3+1-2=2).

The student in the above example would only receive financial support for years 2 and 3 of his programme and is required to support himself (or ‘self fund’) in his first year. Where a student is required to self fund any years of their programme, this will always apply to the earlier rather than later years of the programme. During any ‘self funding’ years, students will not be able to access fee support or grant support. Under the current rules, eligible students can continue to receive the Maintenance Loan until they have an honours degree.

Under the regulations, even if you withdraw after one day of your programme, this will be counted as one year of previous study.

If you decide to withdraw from your programme for compelling personal reasons and can provide evidence of your circumstances, Student Finance England* has the discretion to extend your support by one year.

Please note:

The information above sets out the basic principle of the Previous Study Rule. However, the interpretation of this regulation is not straightforward and there are a number of exceptions/variations which may apply, depending on your circumstances. If you are considering withdrawing from your programme you should speak to a Welfare Support Adviser for advice on your individual funding status and circumstances. We would also recommend that you speak to Student Finance England* to double check your remaining financial support entitlement before making a decision to withdraw or change programmes.

Withdrawal & tuition fees

If you are considering withdrawing from the University you are strongly advised to contact Welfare & International Support and/or the Finance Department to check the University’s fee charging policy. Depending on the date that you withdraw, you may be faced with a bill for tuition fees.

(Students who started their programme prior to 2006 who withdraw from their programme this year and return to Higher Education to start another programme will be classed as ‘new’ students for financial support purposes. This means they will be charged the higher rate of tuition fee (£3,290 in 2010/11). However, they will also be able to apply for the appropriate financial support, including the a Tuition Fee Loan cover the cost of tuition fees. In these circumstances, remaining entitlement to support will be determined by the Previous Study Rule, as outlined above.

If you are an ‘old system’ student who wishes to transfer to another programme at Northumbria University in September 2009, you will be charged the £3,290 tuition fee. However, if transferring to a different institution you must contact the new institution to check on their fee charging policy.)

Withdrawal and your financial support

If you have a Maintenance or Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England*, you must contact them to inform them if you withdraw from your programme. You will then start to repay the loan in the April after you leave, once you start earning over £15,000 per year.

Withdrawal and your student status

If you withdraw from your programme, you will no longer hold student status. This means that you will no longer be entitled to your exemption from Council Tax (for all student households). If you have an interest free overdraft on your student bank account, you will become liable to pay interest on any money that you owe.

Withdrawal & accommodation

If you decide to withdraw from your programme before mid December and you are living in University owned or managed accommodation you can usually give four weeks notice if you wish to leave. ( Please check with the Accommodation Office regarding the arrangement for your particular residence .)

If you wish to leave University accommodation after mid December (or for reasons other than withdrawal/transfer at any time of year) you will usually have to find someone to take over your room before you leave (this must be a Northumbria University student not already in University accommodation).

If you live in private rented accommodation you will need to speak to your Landlord and will usually have to find someone to take over your room.

Withdrawal & international students

If you are an International student and wish to withdraw from your programme or suspend your studies, you should be aware that this may have implications for your immigration status in the UK. It is compulsory that you see Welfare & International Support advice and complete the relevant paperwork before approaching your school to withdraw or suspend formally.

Withdrawal & future options

If you are planning to withdraw from your programme and would like some advice relating to your future options, whether these include work or education, you can visit the Careers and Employment Service within the Student Support and Wellbeing Centre.

Where to get help

For information on the financial implications of withdrawing from Higher Education you should speak to an Adviser in Welfare & International Support .

Contacts

Welfare & International Support

Student Support and Wellbeing Centre,
Ground Floor,
Northumberland Building,
City Campus,
Tel: 0191 227 4127

Student Support and Wellbeing Centre,
Allendale Building,
Coach Lane Campus,
Tel: 0191 215 6590

Email: sv.welfareandinternational@northumbria.ac.uk